Gear Review: Fjällräven Greenland Wax
Fjällräven has a line of great clothing that includes their durable G-1000 fabric, that stands up to almost every condition. When the heavens start to threaten your adventure with the possibility of rain however, it's best to go protected and that's when you need Greenland Wax. The Fjällräven Greenland Wax improves water and wind resistance while still offering the breathability of the fabric. Once applied, it also increases the garment’s durability and lengthens its lifespan. It is made from two natural ingredients, paraffin and beeswax and is environmentally friendly. It isn’t sticky and has a soft smell of beeswax.
A large block should do about ten applications on a Greenland jacket but can be used for a multitude of handy things such as to help sticky zippers, or as a seam sealer on tents and knapsacks (It will also prevent ice from forming on zippers!).
Simply rub the bar evenly into your clothing on a clean, solid, flat area such as a table. You can always go back and apply more layers to areas that might be affected by rain the most such as your hood, shoulder areas of your jacket, or the front of your thigh and knees of your pants. You can also leave sections unprotected for better ventilation such as your lower back which can get sweaty after going backpacking. By throwing the garments in the washing machine a few times, the wax will be removed.
Even on the low setting, it only takes one pass to melt the wax
You can use an iron or hairdryer to impregnate the wax into G-1000 clothing. The Greenland Wax has a low melting point (use the 55 to 60º C (99 to 108º F) range) which is rather perfect as this temperature won't melt the stretchy nylon areas, or draw-strings upon contact. A hair dryer is effective for any tough to reach areas such as pockets, seams or melting the wax to a Fjällräven cap. If you find a spot that is letting moisture though while out exploring, bring a small block of wax with you (it comes in two sizes, the full-sized bar, and a travel pack) and you can use your camp stove to adhere the wax (start by holding it a fair distance away and slowly move it closer. Don’t wear your garment while doing this).
The versatility of both the G-1000 clothing and the Greenland Wax is a real winner when looking for clothing for the outdoors. Although it doesn't waterproof the garment, every type of dew, mist and light rain were of no concern after applying the wax. In addition of it adding to the longevity of the clothing, I highly recommend it.
Stay connected to Fjällräven by following them on Facebook and Twitter, and there is free shipping on orders over $100 on the Canadian online Fjällräven store.
